Enclosure and operating mechanism for an aerosol can



J. TAKIFF Nov. 22, 1966 ENCLOSURE AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AN AEROSOL CAN Filed Dec. 21, 1964 W 6 2 m 2 2 5 2 Ml m INVENTOR. JA CK TA K I F F BYW PM A TTOR/VEYS FIG.2.

United States P t 9 ENCLOSURE AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AN AEROSOL CAN 7 Jack Takiif, Los Angeles, Calif., assiguor to Medicle'an Drug & Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Cahfornia Filed Dec. 21, 1964, Ser. No; 419,818 4 Claims. (CL 222-173) This invention relates generally to an improved means for housing and operating aerosol typecans, such as are used to spray deodorant and disinfecting chemicals in kitchens, bathrooms, and the like.

Conventional aerosol spray cans include a cap structure having a nozzle outlet opening. Upon depression of the cap structure, contents from the can are sprayed through the nozzle opening. A return spring mechanism is incorporated in the cap structure so that when pressure is released from the cap, the spray nozzle passage will be closed. Usually the degree of movement of the cap to effect spraying is quite small so that when manually operated, the cap is fully depressed allowing the maximum amount of spray to emanate from the nozzle. Attempts to only partially depress the cap to cut down the volume of spray are very diflicult since the return spring is non-linear in action.

In certain instances, it would be desirable to provide an actuating mechanism for operating such type aerosol spray cans in which a very carefully controlled movement of the cap structure can be effected. By such an arrangement, the volume of spray may be carefully controlled, which feature might be desirable in effecting automatic action of the spray can as by moving doors, time clock mechanisms and so forth. Such action would also, of course, be desirable in manual operation in those instances in which only a small amount of spray is desired.

It would also be desirable to provide a suitable enclosure for aerosol spray cans which will provide a neat appearance and within which the can may be positioned without in any manner altering the can structure itself so that it may be easily removed and replaced by a new can when the contents thereof have been used up.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, it is accordingly, a primaryobject of this invention to provide a novel enclosure together with an operating mechanism for an aerosol can which fully meets the above mentioned desirable features.

More particularly, it is an object to provide an enclosure and operating mechanism for an aerosol can in which the degree of depressing movement of the nozzle cap may be very carefully controlled to the end that the volume of spray from the can in turn can be controlled. Another important object is to provide in combination with an operating mechanism, a suitable enclosure for a can which presents a neat appearance and which enclosure may be mounted on a wall or other convenient place in a room.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing a housing structure adapted to receive an aerosol can. The housing is provided with a cover having a central opening positioned to register with the nozzle outlet portion of the can so that spray from the can will pass through the opening in the cover of the housing, the can itself being substantially invisible from the exterior of the housing.

Within the housing structure there is provided a compound lever means for depressing the cap of the can to enable operation of the unit. This compound lever arrangement includes first and second levers pivotally mounted intermediate their ends to the interior of the housing. The arrangement is such that movement of the 3,286,883 Patented Nov. 2 2, 1966 ice levers by actuating a portion of one lever extending to the exterior of the housing serves to depress the cap on the can, the movement of the cap being considerably less than the movement of the exposed portion of the lever mechanism so that a fine degree of control is realized.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the enclosure and operating mechanism for anaerosol can in accordance with the present invention with the cover of the enclosure open to expose the interior thereof;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational front view partly in cross-section useful in explaining the operation of the invention; and,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the operating mechanism as viewed from the upper rear interior portion 'of the housing shown in FIG- URE 2.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown a housing 10 which may also serve as a supporting frame structure. As shown, the housing 10 is provided with a cover or door 11 for enclosing an aerosol can 12 having a conventional operating cap 13 with an outlet nozzle opening 14.- Contents from the can 12 are sprayed through the outlet nozzle 14 upon depression of the cap 13. As shown, the door 11 includes an opening 15 positioned at a level to register with the outlet nozzle 14 when the door is closed and the can enclosed to permit spray to pass to the exterior of the housing.

Suitable operating mechanism within the housing for depressing the cap 13 includes an actuating plate 16 guided for vertical movement within the housing and arranged to depress the cap 13 when engaged by one end of a first lever 17. The second lever 18 in turn is ar ranged to actuate the other end of the first lever 17 when an end portion 19, protruding through a lateral slot 20 in the side of the housing 10, is moved,

With particular reference now to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be noted that the first lever 17 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 21 to an interior plate 22 which may constitute part of the housing structure and includes a corner portion '23 serving as a guide for the actuating plate 16. This actuating plate includes a bent tab 24 best illustrated in FIGURE 3 which overlies the top of the cap 13. With this arrangement, one end 25 of the first lever 17 engages in camming arrangement the top of the tab 24 so that downward movement of the one end 25 will 7 cause the guide plate 16 to move downwardly and thus the tab 24 to depress the cap 13.

The other end of the first lever 17 includes a concave surface 26. The second lever 18 is pivoted at 27 and has one end provided with a convex surface 28 for camming engagement with the concave surface 26. The other end portion of the second lever 18 is elongated as indicated at 29 and terminates in the projection portion 19 which passes to the exterior of the housing 10 as described in conjunction with FIGURE 1.

It will be evident from FIGURE 2 that the one end 25 of the first lever 17 is closer to its pivot point 21 than its far end portion 26 and similarly, the one end 28 of the second lever 18 is closer to its pivot point 27 than its far end 19. As a consequence-of this relationship, there will be required a considerably larger movement of the end 19 of the second lever 18 to effect a given movement of the one end 25 of the first lever 17. More particularly, if d designates the distance through which the cap 13 is moved upon actuation of the lever mechanism, the other end of the second lever 19 must move through the distance D.

The operation of the mechanism will be evident from the foregoing description. With the can in the housing and the cover 11 closed, there will only be exposed the end portion 19 of-the second lever protruding through the slot 20 from the side of the housing. To operate the aerosol can, a person, or other suitable actuating mechanism, need only press inwardly on the lever portion 19. This action pivots the second lever 18 about the pivot point27 to a new position such as illustrated in the dotted lines of FIGURE 2. This action in turn causes the convex surface 28 to effect upward movement of the other end 26 of the first. lever 17 as also indicated in dotted lines. This upward movement in turn causes downward movement of the one end 25 of the first lever against the tab 24 thereby sliding the guide plate 16 downwardly to depress the cap 13. The normal return spring in the cap 13 will move the one end of the first lever upwardly when the pressure on the other end 19 of the second leveris released to return thelevers to their solid line positions illustrated in FIGURE 2.

With respect to all of the foregoing, it should be noted that by employing the convex surface 28 in camming engagement with the concave surface 26 and by having the longitudinal axes of the respective levers 17 and 18 at an angle to each other, there will be a greater movement of the one end surface portion 28 of the second leverthan the other end surface portion 26 of the first lever 17. In other words, the camming of the first lever by the second lever also results in a change in the ratio of the respective distances moved so thata very fine degree of control with the further advantage of very little force being required to actuate the cap, is realized.

It will also be clear that the end 19 of the second lever 18 protruding from the housing may be manually actuated, or may be suitably coupled to a clock actuating mechanism or swinging door actuating mechanism, or any other automatic means for operating the aerosol can.

When the contents of the can have been used up, it is a simple matter to open the door 11 and replace the can i with a new one without anydisassembly of the actuating mechanism.

The present invention has thus provided an improved enclosure and operating mechanism for anaerosol can which fully satisfies all of the objects set forth heretofore.

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosure and operating mechanism for an aerosol can having an upper cap with an outlet nozzle adapted upon depression to spray contents from saidcan, comprising, in combination: a housing for receiving said can and including a cover for the front of said housing having an opening at a level corresponding to the height of said outlet nozzle so that contents sprayed from said can pass through said opening when said cover-is in-place; a first actuating lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in said housing near a top portion thereof, one end being positioned to effect depression of said nozzle upon upward movement of the other end of said lever; and a second lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in said housing extending vertically within said housing,;one end of said second lever being positioned to cam said other end of said first lever upwardly when the other'end of said second lever is moved, said housing having a side opening in a side portion thereof through which said other end of said second lever projects to enable movement of said second lever from the exterior of said housing,.said other end of said second. lever being actuable in a direction .substantiallynormal to said side portion.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, in which said one end of said first lever is closer to-the pivot point of said'first lever than its other end and said onenend of said second lever is closer to the pivot point of said second lever than the other end of said second-lever whereby a large move! ment of said other end of said second lever effects a small depressing movement of said one end of said first leven.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, in which thelongi:

tudinal axis of said second leverforms an .angle with. the 1 longitudinal axis of said firstilever, said other 'end of said first lever having .a concave surface portion and said one end of said second leverhaving a convex surface portion in camming engagement with said concave surface por-.' tion whereby the movement of said one end of said. first lever is less than the movement of said .one end of said second lever when said first lever is actuated by said second lever.

4. The subject matterof claim 3, including an actuating plate means disposed adjacent to said cap and being mounted to said housing for vertical slidingmovement,

said actuating plate means including a bent tab overlying the top of said cap, said one end of saidfirst lever en: gaging said tab so as to move said plate and tab down-" wardly upon actuation and thereby depress said cap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,715,922 6/1929 Hix 222506, X

2,534,464 12/1950 Marini et al. 239274 6 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner. 

1. AN ENCLOSURE AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AN AEROSOL CAN HAVING AN UPPER CAP WITH AN OUTLET NOZZLE ADAPTED UPON DEPRESSION TO SPARY CONTENTS FROM SAID CAN, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A HOUSING FOR RECEIVING SAID CAN AND INCLUDING A COVER FOR THE FRONT OF SAID HOUSING HAVING AN OPENING AT A LEVEL CORRESPONDING TO THE HEIGHT OF SAID OUTLET NOZZLE SO THAT CONTENTS SPRAYED FROM SAID CAN PASS THROUGH SAID OPENING WHEN SAID COVER IS IN PLACE; A FIRST ACTUATING LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS IN SAID HOUSING NEAR A TOP PORTION THEREOF, ONE END BEING POSITIONED TO EFFECT DEPRESSION OF SAID NOZZLE UPON UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER END OF SAID LEVER; AND A SECOND LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS IN SAID HOUSING EXTENDING VERTICALLY WITHIN SAID HOUSING, ONE END OF SAID SECOND LEVER BEING POSITIONED TO CAM SAID OTHER END OF SAID FIRST LEVER UPWARDLY WHEN THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND LEVER IS MOVED, SAID HOUSING HAVING A SIDE OPENING IN A SIDE PORTION THEREOF THROUGH WHICH SAID OTHER END OF SAID SECOND LEVER PROJECTS TO ENABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND LEVER FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING, SAID OTHER END OF SAID SECOND LEVER BEING ACTUABLE IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID SIDE PORTION. 